Asian Services in Action and its Partners Receive
$600,000 Grant from Groundbreaking Initiative to
Combat Health Disparities
Akron, Ohio - Northeast Ohio agency, Asian Services
In Action (ASIA) announced today that it is one of
eight community organizations from around the
country selected to receive community grants
totaling $4.8 million, part of an unprecedented
$16.5 million national community investment
partnership called “Health Through Action for Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.”
Launched in 2006, Health Through Action is a
groundbreaking partnership between Asian & Pacific
Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation. The initiative marks the first
time a private sector foundation has joined forces
with a national Asian American, Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander (AA & NHPI) organization to tackle
health disparities in the AANHPI communities.
“By supporting organizations that are on the ground
and on the front lines of this fight, we are taking
a major step toward eliminating the health
disparities that exist in our vulnerable
communities,” said Dr. Ho Tran, President and CEO
APIAHF. “We thank the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for
partnering with us and congratulate Asian Services
In Action and its partners.”
Through the initiative, ASIA will be receive
$600,000 for a four-year term to address Hepatitis B
and other urgent health and health care issues
facing AANHPIs in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus,
Dayton, Greater Cincinnati, and others. “We are
thrilled to receive this tremendous support from
APIAHF and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation,” said May
Chen, ASIA’s Executive Director. “The generous
funding from this groundbreaking initiative bolsters
the capacity of ASIA and its partners to serve the
needs of Ohio’s AA & NHPI communities.
ASIA and other Asian agencies throughout the state
will work together as part of the Ohio Asian
American Health Coalition to implement the
activities for this grant. The long term goal of the
Coalition is to advocate for systems, funding and
policy changes to reduce barriers and to improve the
health of Ohio Asian Americans.
Health Through Action focuses on five major areas:
Strengthening the
capacity of local communities to conduct effective health programming
and advocacy.
Developing and
advancing a national AA & NHPI health agenda.
Supporting strategies
that spur increased data collection and research on AA & NHPI health.
Supporting the
development and implementation of a Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
health agenda
Building a national
network of AA & NHPI communities aimed at achieving optimal health and
well-being.
Estimated at nearly 15
million, the AA & NHPI community is the second fastest growing
population in the U.S. However, the community’s health needs remain
underserved, with little existing research and data to accurately
measure its social/economic and health status. The research that does
exist shows alarming disparity:
Nationally, 10% of
AANHPIs are infected with Hepatitis B compared to 0.1% for whites.
Hepatitis B infection is a primary cause for liver cancer.
Current Population
Survey data from 2005 to 2007 reveal that Asian Americans (16%) and
Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (22%) are more likely to be
uninsured than Whites (11%).
AA & NHPIs have
one of the lowest cancer screening rates in the nation but have
disproportionately higher rates in lung, breast , liver and cervical
cancers.
Cultural and
language barriers routinely prevent AA & NHPIs from accessing
prevention, education and treatment services.
After announcing
the grants, Health Through Action received Letters of Intent from
more than 130 organizations from around the country, of which 30
were invited to submit full proposals. ASIA was selected in part due
to its abilities and commitment to form collaboratives and work with
diverse pan-ethnic communities and organizations.
“With this grant opportunity, we will be able to raise the public’s
awareness to the health disparities and challenges faced by Ohio’s
growing and diverse Asian American communities. Our action will
encourage collaborations with local and state health institutions,
legislative and policy makers to develop equitable initiatives and
resources to improve Asian American health.”
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About Asian Services In Action: Founded in 1995, ASIA’s mission is to empower Asian American and
Pacific Islanders in Northeastern Ohio to access quality,
culturally, and linguistically appropriate information and services.
ASIA has five program areas: Self-Sufficiency (newcomers assistance
services, vocational ESL and citizenship classes);
Children/Youth/Family (alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention,
after-school mentoring and tutoring, high school level academic and
career development); Senior & Adult Services (congregate meals and
wellness program); Community Health Promotions (statewide youth
tobacco prevention and hepatitis prevention and education);
Consultation and Cultural Outreach (interpretation and translation
services, cultural competency trainings, fairs and events, and
information and referral). For more information, please visit
www.asiainc-ohio.org.
About APIAHF: Established in 1986, the Asian & Pacific Islander American
Health Forum (APIAHF) is a national health policy and advocacy
organization whose mission is to enable Asian American and Pacific
Islanders to attain the highest possible level of health and
well-being. For more information, please visit www.apiahf.org.
